Good Friday Morning.  Here’s Today’s Nugget to chew on:

“Prayer & Praise”

Acts 16:22-28 Living Bible (TLB)

22 A mob was quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the judges ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden whips. 23 Again and again the rods slashed down across their bared backs; and afterwards they were thrown into prison. The jailer was threatened with death if they escaped, 24 so he took no chances, but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet into the stocks.

25 Around midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to the Lord—and the other prisoners were listening— 26 suddenly there was a great earthquake; the prison was shaken to its foundations, all the doors flew open—and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer wakened to see the prison doors wide open, and assuming the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword to kill himself.

28 But Paul yelled to him, “Don’t do it! We are all here!”

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Further Thought:  Paul and Silas gave us two keys when facing difficulties. (1) Regardless of how bad the situation may be or appear, always lift the concern to God in prayer. (2) After praying, they praise God for the answer to their prayer. Remember, there is no need to pray if you are going to keep worrying about the issue. Paul and Silas entrusted their concerns to God and began to praise Him, confident that He would deliver what He had promised.

Recognize this: When we pray, we come into God’s presence. When we praise, God steps into our presence, as we see in today’s passage. So, when facing difficulties, don’t let yourself stay down and feel sorry for yourself. No, remind yourself to go to God based on the authority of His Word, and then begin to thank Him for the victory. Remember, you and I can praise God in challenging times (1) because we know what He has promised in His Word, and (2) we know it’s impossible for Him to lie.

Have a great day and keep chewing on God’s Word.

Additional references:  Mark 11:24-26; Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17; 1 John 5:14-15; Psalm 100:4-5 and Hebrews 6:18

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“2026 Declaring the Goodness of God”

Today’s Recommended Reading Ecclesiastes 6